Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Southampton lung cancer nurse specialist service.  

ABOUT THE TEAM
The team is committed to delivering a high quality efficient service in the diagnosis and treatment of  patients with suspected and confirmed lung cancer from the local and regional areas. The service currently operates Monday to Friday (not on bank holidays) and the team work to a rota to ensure the service needs are met. You will be working alongside a team of lung cancer clinical nurse specialists (band 6-8), lung cancer operations co-ordinators and a Cancer Support Worker.  This role is an integral part of the team which co-ordinates pathways across multi-disciplinary teams for patients ensuring the delivery of lung cancer targets. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

WHAT YOU’LL DO
You will provide specialist advice, information, education and support to patients, their carer’s and other health care professionals. You will be managing a patient caseload (with support where needed) and will act as a key worker and advocate for the lung cancer patients from the point of diagnosis. An integral part of the role will be to communicate to patients in a way that empowers them to make informed choices about their health and treatment.  

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking to recruit a motivated and enthusiastic team player with excellent communication skills to provide high quality care and support for patients on the lung cancer pathway. This post requires a minimum of 2 years cancer nursing experience. 

If you think you have the skills to provide this service and work with our teams we would love to hear from you. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO APPLY
If you’re interested in applying for this role, we would encourage you to get in touch using the contact information at the bottom of this advert to arrange an informal telephone or face to face visit. Alternatively, if you’re ready to apply, please follow the link below to complete an application.

Key responsibilities of the role include 1) clinical practice, 2) management for effective care, 3) working across professional and organisational boundaries, 4) evaluation and research, 5) development and education. 

1) Clinical practice: 
- Provide holistic assessment and identification of the health and psychosocial needs of patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer. 
- Develop personalised care plans to meet this cohort of patients needs in partnership with patients/carers and wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT). 
- Manage a caseload of patients (as per agreed local criteria) with suspected and confirmed lung cancer in collaboration with the wider MDT.
- Acting as a 'keyworker' for patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer through their diagnostic and treatment pathway, providing relevant information, facilitating empowerment to support shared decision making and informed choices, educating patients and families to support self management strategies, and acting as the patient's advocate. 
- Use advanced communication skills to impart sensitive, complex and potentially distressing information to patients and carers, and provide them with advice and emotional support in the outpatient and inpatient setting as required. 
- Maintain adequate patient documentation to NMC requirements for all patients seen and advice given in any practice setting and contribute to clinical activity/data collection as required. 

2) Management for effective care: 
- Work collaboratively and in partnership with the wider multi-disciplinary team, offering appropriate, guidance and supervision to colleagues. 
- Be involved in planning and implementing standards of care, practice guidelines and where appropriate Integrated Care Pathways, and to continually evaluate the quality of patient care. 
- Contribute to the development of nurse-led initiatives for the benefit of patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer in relevant care settings, in conjunction with medical and nursing/AHP colleagues.
- Demonstrate and disseminate clinical practice developments, utilising research in the specialist area of practice to develop and deliver evidence-based care.
- Be proactive in supporting and contributing to change to promote practice development and service improvement, in accordance with local and national service policy or guidance. 
- To participate in delivering the UHS corporate nursing agenda.

 3) Working across professional and organisational boundaries: 
- Challenge professional and organisational boundaries in the interest of the patient group and to improve health outcomes.    
- Contribute to the development of protocols, documentation systems, standards, policies and clinical guidelines for others to use in practice.
- Work in collaboration with health and social care colleagues within the Trust and external primary and acute care providers to develop patient-centred pathways of care for smooth and timely referral, minimising delays and supporting shared care.

4) Evaluation and Research: 
- Assist in the identification in gaps in evidence and/or practice. 
- Participate in audit and evaluation of the service and patient care, including patient satisfaction with colleagues to continually develop the service that we provide.  

5) Development and education:
- Of self and others as per locally agreed education pathways. 

What experience/skills are needed: 
As per the Person Specification you will be a Registered Nurse on relevant part of the NMC register,  with a  Degree qualification or equivalent 120 credits at L6.  
For this post experience within cancer care and the field of lung cancer is desired, with evidence of working within a multi-disciplinary team. Education in advanced communication skills training or counselling skills is desired. 

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Registered nurse on relevant part of the NMC register
• Degree qualification or equivalent 120 credits at L6
• Post registration qualification within area of speciality.
• Completion of all Band 5 (preceptorship) competencies
• Provide evidence of supporting/ managing a range of learners in practice
• Provide evidence of supporting colleagues to promote effective learning in practice
• Extensive post registration experience within specialist area.
• Knowledge of current issues within the acute health service.
• Understanding of personal accountability.
• Confident of own knowledge base, aware of learning needs and seeks guidance when appropriate
• Able to critically review and communicate clinical information.

Desirable criteria

• Registered on MSc Pathway – completion of HTPA Competencies
• Act in the role of Practice Assessor or supporting the progression of learners / supporting challenges as needed
• Counselling qualification
• Palliative care course
• IT training
• Change Management, clinical practice development.
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Interest in nurse –led care
• Organisational/strategic awareness.
• Clear about professional accountability and autonomous practice components of role

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication
• Self-motivated
• Problem solving
• Delegation
• Leadership
• Motivational
• Teamwork
• General IT skills
• Prioritisation
• Working under pressure

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.